Division II
Parma Padua Franciscan Shuts Out Columbus Bishop Hartley for Fourth Title
DAYTON, Ohio – In its fifth appearance in the OHSAA state volleyball championship game, Parma Padua Franciscan won its fourth state title, topping Columbus Bishop Hartley 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-20) Saturday in the Division II championship game at Wright State’s Nutter Center.
After knocking off top-ranked Mentor Lake Catholic Thursday in the state semifinals, the fourth-ranked Bruins (23-6) have now won state titles in 2016, 2013, 2009 and 2008. They were also a state semifinalist in 2014.
Second-ranked Hartley (25-5) was making its sixth appearance at the state tournament and now has three state runner-up trophies to go along with a state title in 2011.
Padua was led by senior Rachel Kopchu with 16 kills. Senior Cierah Jackson added 11 kills and senior Courtney Morris had 33 assists.
Harley senior Kristen Chatman posted a match-high 17 kills, while sophomore Chiamaka Nwokolo had 11 kills and junior Paige Rawlins had 25 assists.
Division I
Brecksville-Broadview Heights Wins First Volleyball State Championship
DAYTON, Ohio – Brecksville-Broadview Heights won its first volleyball state championship as the Bees knocked off nine-time state champion Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame 3-1 (25-21, 25-21, 14-25, 27-25) Saturday at the Nutter Center at Wright State University.
Ranked third in the final coaches poll, Brecksville-Broadview Heights was making its seventh appearance at the state tournament and stormed out to a 2-0 set lead before 13th-ranked Mount Notre Dame seized the momentum by winning the third set. The Cougars, who had won the last three Div. I state titles, jumped out to a 6-2 lead in the fourth set, but Brecksville went on a 12-4 run to take the lead and went on to win the set and match.
Brecksville was led by sophomore JoAnna Chang with 23 kills, while senior Abby Barth had 16 kills and junior Emma Tupa had 12. Junior Shannon Williams posted 50 assists.
Mount Notre Dame saw junior Grace Hauck collect 23 kills, while senior Sarah Riesenberger had 16 and sophomore Sam Wolf had 13. Junior Armania Heckenmueller collected 58 assists.
Division IV
Jackson Center Sweeps Tuscarawas Central Catholic for Back-to-Back State Titles
DAYTON, Ohio – Winning its second-straight Div. IV state championship in dominating fashion and wrapping up an undefeated season, Jackson Center shut out New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-13) Saturday at Wright State’s Nutter Center.
In their fourth trip to the state tournament, the No. 1-ranked Tigers (30-0) racked up 40 kills against only 14 attack errors and collected nine service aces. Five players had double-digit digs.
Senior Cassie Meyer led the way for Jackson Center with 17 kills, while senior Alicia Kessler had eight kills and three aces. Senior Kamryn Elchert posted 15 assists.
Eighth-ranked TCC (26-3) was making its fifth trip to the state tournament and takes home its fourth state runner-up trophy. The Saints were led by Sydney and Alexis Gilland, who both had nine kills, while Sydney added 12 assists.
Division III
Miami East Wins Five-Set Title Match for Third Championship
DAYTON, Ohio – In a five-set thriller, Casstown Miami East took home the Div. III state championship with a 3-2 (25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 22-25, 15-6) win over Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley Saturday at the Nutter Center at Wright State University.
Ranked No. 16 in the final coaches poll, Miami East (25-5) knocked off No. 1 Gilmour Academy in the state semifinals before facing TV, ranked No. 4, in the finals. After taking the first two sets, Miami East posted even better hitting percentages in sets No. 3 and 4, but TV still won both sets to tie the match at 2-2. There were 15 tie scores or lead changes in the fourth set alone.
Then in the fifth set, Miami East posted seven kills against zero attack errors, while TV had six attack errors, as the Vikings pulled away for the 15-6 win and their third state championship (2011, 2012, 2016). Miami East’s overall .221 hitting percentage set a state tournament record for a five-set match, topping the .217 turned in by Gilmour Academy in the 2013 state championship match against Versailles.
Junior Jonni Parker led Miami East with 26 kills and five service aces and added 15 assists and 14 digs. Her five aces set a Div. III state tournament record for a five-set match. Junior Kyndall Hellyer collected 17 kills, 27 assists and three service aces.
TV senior Kayla Hall set a Div. III state tournament record for a five-set match with 83 total attacks. She posted 24 kills, while junior Kierrah Stewart had 22 kills.